Sign up to our newsletter and never miss out on the latest offers!
Ideas & Inspiration:
Create Your Perfect Outdoor Entertaining Area
When creating your home, you should be approaching your outdoor space with as much love and consideration as your indoor living areas. Your main objective is to make the 2 spaces as fluid and accessible as possible. Simply, consider the space as one big entertaining area!
As the weather warms up, it’s natural to start thinking about this space as we start to move outside to chase the sun. Whether your home has a pool, garden or has a quaint alfresco balcony, there is always an opportunity for one to enhance their outdoor entertaining area. We’ve put together 5 focus areas that we believe will help you achieve your perfect space, no matter the size!
1. Purpose
Start by emptying your space and creating a blank canvas. You’ll be able to get a much better idea of scope and possibilities. From here you’ll be able to marry up function and purpose: what is the intent for this outdoor area and what does it need to contain?
A lot of this can easily be narrowed down to the size of the space you’re working with, but it also revolves around your lifestyle. Does it require a dining table for hosting or a lounge setting for those informal gatherings and D&Ms around the BBQ? Perhaps a personal retreat to meditate, or are you dedicating it to the kids as a space to play?
Regardless of your intent, the main thing they all have in common is there is always a focal point that will be at the heart of it.
2. Lighting
Lighting can often be an afterthought and considered only as a necessity after the sun has set. Having the right lighting can often enhance the mood and create the perfect atmosphere for any home.
Outdoor entertaining areas that contain a dining or lounge set, opt for a soft ambient glow – one that allows you to see what you’re doing but not shine directly on your guests as they eat or drink. Fixed pendants or downlights under covered patios can mimics details from your indoor space to make it feel like a seamless continuation of the house. Feature lights along the pathways, walls/pillars or garden beds can be a great contributor to safety, whilst also creating a wonderful illusion of depth with its ability to make an area feel larger amongst the night air.
For those special occasions where festive lights might be added, consider using solar powered lights. Not only will your electricity bill thank you, but it saves on ugly and hazardous cords lying about the place. Other festive or mood lighting can also come by the way of lamps and candles. When positioned safely it can great powerful ambiance to be enjoy by all.
3. Seasonality & Quality
Your next big consideration needs to be around the quality of materials and pieces you’re purchasing. For homeowners that can make cosmetic changes to the structure of the home, it allows the flexibility to invest in fans, blinds, or awnings to shield you from the elements all year round. For those living in rentals, it doesn’t mean you are without; outdoor umbrellas, portable heaters and much more are available to help you get the most out of your outdoor entertaining area.
Homeowners or renters alike, ensuring your furniture is structurally sound for the all-weather conditions is very important. Whether you live by the ocean, up in the mountains or in a tropical climate, each location will have its own obstacles that you’ll need to face. Look for UV stabilised paint to prevent colour from fading when exposed to the sun, or galvanised hardware to help ward off rusting and corrosion. These are the type of quality considerations that will save you so much money long term!
4. Greenery
We understand not everyone was born with a green thumb. Luckily there are so many varietals of low maintenance plants that extend outside the cactus family, your outdoor entertainment area can always be tailored to your personal taste. For those who are truly terrible at keeping plants alive, there is no shame in artificial plants or turf!
Before your big spurge at Bunnings, you need to make note of the environment in which the plants are going to live. Sunlight is key; will they be exposed to harsh light for long periods of time, indirect light or sometimes no light at all. A little bit of research will save you a lot of money and time trying to revive them – don’t fight your environment, work with it!
In some case the main intent on greenery can be for privacy; Lilly Pilly or Bamboo hedges are a wonderful option that not only provides privacy, but greenery and texture. When it comes to additional styling, start simple and try not to over clutter the area. The intent is to enhance, not clutter and overwhelm the space. Plant pots, planter or baskets can be a wonderful addition, and a nod to your indoor décor.
5. A Personal Touch
After all your practical elements are done it’s time to put your personal touch on it. This is where you can get creative, and really start to bridge the gap from your indoor to outdoor living space. If you have a large space the commands and table or outdoor sofa set, start to bring similar décor textures and elements that you’ve styled inside. This could range from similar materials (woods, metals etc.) found in furniture or sculptures in the garden, or perhaps reside in smaller features such as cushions or outdoor rugs. When looking at furniture, the weight of your chairs, side tables, sun lounge, bench, or stools, can be important if you’re constantly hosting and changing up the floor plan to accommodate guests. Buy pieces that multipurpose and can be styled by the pool or garden.
Where space allows, the glow and ambience of an open fire provides can never go wrong. For those looking for a fuss-free option, consider an ethanol burner that also provides heat and can be found in a variety of shapes, sizes, even portable options! And of course, the last piece to truly making it your own; music. No gathering is complete without the accompaniment of great tunes while you sit back and relax with your friends and family.
Image features: Rhodes Outdoor Dining Chair in White & Terracotta, Set of 2 Cassidy Table Set in White
